Norfolk Tides Preview

A trade here, a free agent signing there, a few promotions along the way, and our Norfolk Tides roster is complete and ready for Season One in the Dream League. Here is our early season preview for the Tides, from batters to pitchers, and who is running the squad.

Luis Villano, 1B/DH, 24yo: A fantastic bat and youth on his side, Villano has the potential to be a contributor to the big league squad for the next decade. Brought up from the minor leagues this spring, Villano immediately made an impact during spring training, racking up 4 HR's, 8 RBI's, and a .360 AVG in just 25 AB's. Due to his youth and tremendous upside, Villano will inevitably be the subject of many trade rumors, but the club assures us that he is as untouchable as they come.

Harry Soto, 2B/SS/OF, 33yo: Soto is not a true 2B, but moved into the position when Justin Ward failed to live up to expectations, and when Stan Childs inherited the SS position. A fantastic fielder due to his years at SS, Soto will team with Childs to create a wall in the center of the infield that will not allow many hits up the middle.

Stan Childs, SS/CF, 23yo: An outstanding fielder, with a strong bat and great eye at the plate, Childs is another young gun who can lead this franchise for years to come. The club will not admit to any trade rumors concerning Childs, but we have heard that other teams are very interested in acquiring his services someday.

Ivan Garza, 3B/1B/LF/DH, 29yo: A tremendously strong bat, coupled with the range and glove to play multiple positions, Garza can do almost anything for this team. His $4.6M contract will draw the ire of the fans if he does not produce throughout the entire season, but the club is very confident in his abilities.

Zip Cook, LF, 25yo: A potential all-star at such a young age, Zip will be the face of the franchise for many years. Signing a 4-year, $26M contract earlier this spring, we know that we will have Zip at least through his late 20's, his prime years, when we will expect more and more from him every season. A solid bat and tremendous speed, Zip is one of the young leaders in the clubhouse.

Tomas Romero, CF, 32yo: Allowed to become a free agent by Tucson, the Tides were the top bidder for this tremendous CF. Excellent speed, a solid bat, and good enough defensively to be a contributor in the outfield, the club is very excited about Romero finishing his career in Norfolk.

Alex Aquino, RF, 23yo: A waiver wire acquisition earlier this spring, Aquino has the potential to be a solid contributor to this team, but for now is on a short leash. With the ability to get hits and draw walks, combined with his above average speed, Aquino could be a threat on the base paths.
Jeff Snyder, C, 25yo: Promoted from the AAA squad early in the spring, Snyder is a fantastic pitch caller, which will only help the pitching staff as the season gets going. His ability at the plate will not earn him any awards, but he will be solid enough to not hurt the team either.

Brian Graves, DH/3B/1B, 31yo: Almost interchangeable with Garza, Graves simply drew the short straw when it came time to decide who would end up being the DH. Not a typical hitter with raw power who you normally find in the DH role, he might switch positions with Garza if the right situation presents itself. With a few big hitters in AAA, Graves might simply find himself on the bench, with a younger player taking his spot, should he not perform sufficiently.

Dann Jacome, SP, 26yo: The opening day starter, this lefty was promoted earlier this spring, and immediately thrust into the role of being the "savior of the franchise." Great control, which will only get better with age, Jacome has the potential to be a fantastic finesse pitcher over the next few years.

Dorian Baker, SP, 28yo: Another early spring promotion to the majors, Baker has been waiting over half a decade to get a call-up to The Show. Great stamina and control should make Baker a solid number two starter, but he might not progress very much in the coming years.

Geoff Coleman, SP, 22yo: Coleman has so much potential upside, the team can barely contain its excitement when we ask them about how he will do this year and years to come. His inability to stay healthy, and his struggles against left-handed batters are the only concerns at this point.

Magglio Velazquez, SP, 28yo: A Rule-5 draftee, Velazquez has been thrown in to the starting rotation, where the club is basically hoping that he can simply not hurt them, and have a few good outings every couple of weeks. This Dominican has two solid pitches, and is great against right-handed batters, but his control and struggles against lefties are worrisome.

J.R. Rhodes, SP, 35yo: Approaching the end of his career, the team is hoping to get another couple of seasons out of Rhodes, and this year they have slotted him into the SP5 position. Not an elite pitcher anymore, but still solid enough to contribute a few good outings.

Javier Roque, Cl, 23yo: Yet another player promoted from the minor leagues, Roque is expected to be the team's closer for well over a decade. His control and pitches are fantastic, and his durability is off the charts.

Prospects:
Grant Sparks, AAA, 2B
Jorel Thurman, AAA, 2B/SS
Raymond Randolph, AAA, 2B
Marty Branyon, AAA, LF
Ralph Shields, AAA, SP